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WIRE FENCE.

Patented Nov;

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Unirse STATES,

PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES R. PIOKETT, OF DELAWARE, OHIO.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,833, dated November 27, 1894. Application filed May 24,1894. .Serial No. 512,355. (Nomodel.)

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. PICKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Delaware, in thecounty of Delaware and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Wire tlence, of which the following is a-s'pecifica- The invention relates to improvements in wire fences. The object of the present inventionis to improve the construction of wire fences, to increase their strength and durability, and to permit'the fence Wires to contract and expand according to the temperature, and at the same time to preserve them at the proper tension xat all temperatures.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fence constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is avertical longitu'di# nal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 vis a transverse sectional view of one of the intermediate fence posts.

Like numerals of reference indicate-correspending parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a series of horizontal fence wires connected witha vertical attachment bar 2, which has its ends loosely connected to the outer ends of opposite compensating levers 3, which are fulcrumed on a common pivot 4 to an inclined brace 5 forming asup-I port for the levers; and the inner ends of the levers engage a yielding spring press bar 6, which permits the necessary expansion and contraction of the wire. Springs 7, which are mounted in sockets 8 of the corner post 9 engage the bar 6, and are interposed between the same and the corner posts 9, the bar 6 being vertically disposed and connected with the corner post by horizontal bolts 10 passing through the springs. The levers are fulcrumed near their inner ends as before stated in order that a slight movement of the springs may produce a greater movement of the attachment bar to enable smaller springs to be employed, than would be the case, were the levers fulcrumed at their centers. The lower end of the brace 5 is secured to a post 11, and the parts are further supported by an inclined guide rod 12 extending fromthe lower portion of the corner post to a point on the post 11 near the center thereof. The loose connections between the outer ends ofthe levers, and the upper and lower ends of the attachment bar consist of two staples 13 and 14, which are linked together. By this construction it will be readily apparent that a simple and effective compensating device is provided, to permit the wires of a fence to expand and contract according to the temperature,

whereby breakage of the wires is avoided and the wires may be maintained at the desired tension at all times. y

The wires are supported at intervals by in termediate fence posts 15, each of which consists of a cylindrical base 16 which is embedded in the ground and' ame'tal upper portion. The cylindrical base 16 may'consist of stone sewer pipe or the like. Its top is offset to provide an inner annular shoulder 17, and it has a cement filling 18, which secures Within the cylinder 16 the lower portions 19 of side bars 2O of the post. The lower terminals of the portions 19 are bent laterally to provide lugs 21 which engage the lower edges of the cylinder 16; and the side bars 2O are angularly bent at 22 to conform to the configuration of 'and to fit in the annular shoulder 17. By this construction and the cement filling the side bars and the cylindrical base are rigidly connected to enable the post to withstand any lateral or longitudinal strain without injuring or breaking the base.

The side bars converge above the cylindrical base and meet at the top of the post, where they are suitably connected by welding or the like, or they may be constructed of a single piece of metal. Between the upper portions of the side bars is arranged a'depending perforated bar 23 having its lower end embedded in the cement filling of the base, and the upper portion secured to the sidebars between the same, and is preferably given a quarter bend below the point of attachment,.the main portion ofthe perforated depending bar being arranged transversely of the fence, while the width of the side bars are disposed lon gitudi- IOO nally of the fence. The perforations of the depending bar are for the reception of the fence wires l.

It will be seen that the fence post is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, and that it possesses great strength and durability, and is practically indestructible.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this inven tion, such as applying the improvements in post bases to telegraph, telephone, trolley poles, and the like.

1. In a fence, the combination of horizontal fence wires, an attachment bar having the wires secured to it, levers fulerumed intermediate of their ends arranged vertically and having their outer ends connected with the attachment bar, a support for the levers a post, a bar engaging the inner ends of the levers, and springs interposed between the post and the last mentioned bar, substantially as described.

2. In a fence, the combination of horizontal fence wires, an attachment bar having the wires secured to it, levers fulcrumed intermediate of their ends and having their outer terminals connected with the attachment bar, a support for the levers, a post, and springs mounted on the post for cushioning the inner ends of the levers, subtantially as described.

3. In a fence, a post composed of a cylindrical base provided at its top with an annular shoulder and having a cement filling, side bars arranged in the base and having their lower ends bent outward and engaging the lower edges thereof, said side bars having their upper ends connected4 and angularly bent at the top of the base and fitting in the shoulder thereof, and a perforated bar arranged between the side bars and secured at its upper end to them and having its lower end embedded in the filling of the base, substantially as described.

4. In a fence, a post comprising a cylindrical base having a plastic filling, the side bars arranged within the base and converging above the same and connected at their upper ends, and the depending perforated bar se cured at its upper end within the side bars, and having its lower end embedded in the filling, substantially as described.

5. A post provided with a base comprising a cylinder provided at its top with an annular shoulder, the converging side bars formed integral at their upper ends and arranged in the cylinder and having their lower ends bent outward and engaging the lower edges of the cylinder, said side bars being outwardly offset to t the shoulder of the cylinder, and a plastic illing arranged within the cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto axed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES R. PICKETT.

Vitnesses:

JAMES D. FINLEY, EDWARD T. BRANDEBURY. 

